Wofford Uses Free Throws, Big 4th Quarter To Stymie Bears

Thursday, January 23

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

6-13,1-3SoCon

Wofford

12-5,4-0SoCon

Wofford

Mercer

Wofford Uses Free Throws, Big 4th Quarter To Stymie Bears

1/23/2025 7:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Visiting Wofford connected on 22 of its 27 free throw attempts and shot better than 62 percent amid a game-changing fourth quarter as the Terriers picked up their sixth-straight win with a 61-51 triumph over Mercer on Thursday evening in Hawkins Arena.

It was the third-straight loss for the Bears (6-13, 1-3 SoCon) who canned a season-high five 3-pointers, while also registering double-digit free throws for the 13^th time in 2024-25. The Southern Conference-leading Terriers (12-5, 4-0) have now captured six-straight games, but snapped a five-game road losing streak with Thursday's decision.

THE BASICS

SCORE: Wofford 61, Mercer 51
RECORDS: Mercer 6-13 (1-3 SoCon); Wofford 12-5 (4-0 SoCon)
LOCATION: Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

Mercer canned nearly 44 percent of its field goal attempts in the opening quarter, including a trio of 3-pointers, to inevitably lug an 18-13 lead into the following stanza. The Bears scored six-straight points to eventually forge a 10-4 lead following a free throw from Talia Harris midway through, and Wofford was able to hang around for the rest of the period.

2ND QUARTER

Wofford scored the first six points of the second quarter to grab a 19-18 lead just 3-1/2 minutes in. The lead changed hands five times over the next four minutes, but Mercer swung the pendulum one last time in the quarter on Talia Harris's triple with 1:57 left to play and the Bears eventually carried a 29-26 lead into the intermission.

3RD QUARTER

Buckets came at a premium in a third period that saw the sides combine for 5-for-25 shooting. However, Wofford found its rhythm toward the end of the stanza, hitting consecutive 3-pointers in the final 66 seconds, including a go-ahead trey from Molly Masingale that gave the visitors a 36-34 advantage. Madi Hawk's shot from downtown 45 ticks later made it a 39-34 contest heading to the final period.

4TH QUARTER

Wofford shot 62.5 percent from the field, while also turning in a 10-for-13 clip from the free throw line, to eventually close the book in the final stanza. The Bears made it a two-possession game, 44-40, on Ariana Bennett's transition bucket with 6:36 remaining, but Molly Masingale's layup on the other end of the court marked the first of 13-straight points by the visitors that, inevitably, iced the outcome.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Senior Nahawa Diarra went 5-for-6 from the free throw line and 5-for-13 from the field on the way to registering a career-high 17 points. She complemented her offensive numbers with three boards and a steal.
+ Freshman Talia Harris chipped in 10 points, five rebounds and a trio of assists. It is the fifth time in the last six games Harris has scored 10 or more points.
+ Junior Ariana Bennett netted eight points and a team-best nine rebounds. It is the sixth time this season that the Edwardsville, Ill., has paced the Bears in the rebounding column.

NOTABLES

+ The Bears committed a season-low seven turnovers on Thursday, including just three in the opening half. It is the lowest turnover count for the Orange & Black since turning the ball over just three times in a 76-69 win over Samford in the 2023-24 regular season finale.
+ Thursday evening's result marked Wofford's first win in Hawkins Arena since a 76-71 triumph on Jan. 26, 2023. The home team had won the last three matchups in the series heading into Thursday's tilt.
+ MU's five 3-pointers marked its most triples since canning five triples in last season's loss to Chattanooga in the SoCon Tournament. The Bears had previously turned in four 3-pointers on two occasions this season.

UP NEXT

Mercer will close out a two-game home stand on Saturday when the Bears battle Southern Conference rival Furman (11-9, 1-3 SoCon) in the front half of a 2 p.m. women's and men's Education Day doubleheader in Hawkins Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Fans can enjoy both games for the price of one ticket by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets.

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BACK THE BEARS

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